From source to sink: Investigating the linkages between sources of sediment and downstream water quality in Canadian watersheds

3000字以内含空格 * 水土保持与泥沙动力学的性质有着内在的联系。土壤侵蚀可通过重新分配或移走富含有机物和养分的表土，导致土壤健康状况下降。此外，向地表水道输送沉积物会增加浑浊度和营养物含量，从而导致水质下降。因此，良好的水土资源养护和管理需要对沉积物动力学有扎实的了解。然而，沉积物污染往往具有扩散性，因此很难获得有关流域内沉积物和营养物主要来源的可靠信息。此外，人们对影响沉积物从源向汇转移的过程知之甚少，难以量化。为了应对这些挑战，我将继续，并通过实地和流域规模的项目相结合，扩大我目前的研究。我的研究项目的目的是调查流域过程对整个景观的土壤和沉积物特性的影响，这将导致流域管理的改进指南。我的计划将调查土壤和沉积物的物理，地球化学和生物学特性在不同景观尺度上与一般土地利用以及小型和大型地貌景观特征（海狸坝到悬崖）相关的变化的原因和后果。除了对土壤和水质产生直接影响外，土壤和沉积物特性的这种变异性还可在称为沉积物指纹的技术中用作示踪剂。这一管理工具用于确定流域内的沉积物来源。然而，这项技术的实用性取决于我们对沉积过程的理解。我提出的研究计划将导致沉积物指纹的不断完善，从而为水土保持和管理提供更强大的工具。拟议的研究将在位于马尼托巴西部骑马山国家公园东部边界沿着的威尔逊溪流域进行。研究地点将扩大马尼托巴流域监测网络，更重要的是，为未管理和非农业流域提供信息。将威尔逊溪与该地区其他流域进行比较，将有助于更好地了解地貌特征的单独影响（例如，马尼托巴陡崖）和农业土地使用做法（例如，裁剪）。此外，拟议的研究将有助于告知下游农业生产者，他们担心洪水和过多的沉积物产生。拟议的研究也有一个强大的培训组成部分，并将为3个硕士和5个本科生提供资金。这项培训将培养掌握以保护为基础的流域做法的专业人员，从而改善水和土壤质量。

3000 word limit including spaces******Conservation of soil and water resources are intrinsically linked by the nature of sediment dynamics. Soil erosion can lead to a decline in soil health by redistributing or removing organic and nutrient-rich topsoil. Further, the delivery of sediment to surface waterways can result in a decline in water quality through increased turbidity and nutrient loading. Therefore, good conservation and management of soil and water resources requires a solid understanding of sediment dynamics. However, the often diffuse nature of sediment pollution makes it difficult to obtain reliable information about the dominant sources of sediment and nutrients within a watershed. Further, the processes which affect the transfer of sediment from source to sink are poorly understood and difficult to quantify.***To address these challenges, I will continue with, and expand on, my current research through a combination of field- and watershed-scale projects. The aim of my research program is to investigate the effects watershed processes on the properties of soil and sediment across the landscape which will lead to improved guidelines for watershed management. My program will investigate causes and consequences of variability in physical, geochemical, and biological properties of soil and sediment at different landscape scales in relation to general land-use as well as small and large geomorphic landscape features (beaver dams to escarpments). In addition to having direct consequences on soil and water quality, this variability in properties of soils and sediments can be used as tracers in a technique known as sediment fingerprinting. This management tool is used to identify sources of sediment within a watershed. However, the utility of this technique depends on our understanding of sediment processes. My proposed research program will lead to continued refinement of sediment fingerprinting, thereby providing a more robust tool for soil and water conservation and management.***The proposed research will take place in the Wilson's Creek watershed located along the eastern border of Riding Mountain National park in Western Manitoba. The location of the research will expand the network of monitored watersheds in Manitoba and, more importantly, provide information for an un-managed and non-agricultural watershed. Comparing Wilson's Creek with other watersheds in the region will allow for better understanding of the separate influences of geomorphic features (e.g., Manitoba Escarpment) and agricultural land use practices (e.g., cropping). Further, the proposed research will help inform downstream agricultural producers who have concerns over flooding and excessive sediment production.***The proposed research also has a strong training component and will provide funding for 3 MSc and 5 undergraduate students. This training will develop professionals skilled in conservation-based watershed practices that result in improved water and soil quality.